Making a STUNNING ultra-realistic miniature river diorama with AMAZING hyper-realistic vegetation

WWS and Diorama Presepe and Green Stuff World gifted me their products that I used in this video.
Get access to my new tutorial ebook series! / higheyeworkshop .
(The ebook tutorials are now Patreon rewards, along with early access to KZbin videos. Any information given in the video about previous Patreon rewards may be out of date.)
Join me as I show you how I turned these Secret Weapon Tablescapes terrain tiles into a stunning river display piece with amazing vegetation.
These tiles are typically used for creating a wargaming table or a display board for miniatures. I have used them to create an incredibly realistic natural scene, but you could use the techniques I demonstrate here to make an amazing tabletop battlefield. They are top-quality, highly-detailed modular terrain boards that you can use to create a hyper-realistic diorama or display.
Making a beautiful ultra-realistic river diorama or beautiful terrain is made easier by using perfect vegetation materials: bushes, grasses and shrubs from www.dioramapresepe.com. I was lucky enough to receive a lot of material from this amazing producer for use in my videos. I am not being paid to promote this stuff, but they did send me the materials for free and I do believe it is the best you can buy and am happy to use it.
I am also grateful that War World Scenics sent me some tufts and a static grass applicator for free to use in videos. These, too, are amazing products and really helped this scene come to life. Check them out at www.WWScenics.com.
I have used CFS Fibreglass resins for a long time. They were kind enough to send me some materials, too. Head to www.cfsnet.co.uk and enter the code HIGHEYE10 for a 10% discount. Well worth it - their epoxy is fantastic.
Green Stuff World gave me some of the taller shrubs in this video, but they also sell amazing products such as textured rolling pins, paints and weathering powders. It's www.greenstuffworld.com for more supplies than you'll ever need!
Other materials used:
Secret Weapon Tablescapes Rolling Fields
Acrylic paint
Game Washes by Vallejo
Woodland Scenics static grass and Fine/Coarse Turf
Peco static grass
Mod Podge Gloss
Isopropyl Alcohol
Scenic Glue
Links:
In this video I use several products that were gifted to me for use in my videos:
Scenic materials from Diorama Presepe: www.dioramapresepe.com (and follow on Instagram: / dioramapresepe.com_off... )
Basing glue, tufts, Micro Static Grass Applicator from WWS: www.WWScenics.com.
Tall shrubs from Green Stuff World: www.greenstuffworld.com
Hot Wire Sculpting Tool by Hot Wire Foam Factory: www.hotwirefoamfactory.com
Many of the materials and tools I use come with safety instructions. Please always read and follow these rather than simply copy what you see me or other people doing.
Follow me on Instagram: / higheyeworkshop

[@WWSCENICS]

Great work Merrick and great to see our stuff being put to such good use!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Cheers! Thanks for the stuff - it's so good.

[@mattbecker4514]

I had no clue from the thumbnail that this was a single injection molded piece. Also Precepi is amazing. Good work.

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Sorry for late reply. Kind of.you to say. Thank you!

[@merry8218]

You have such a talent. I'm speechless. Keep it up. Thank you for your video, it does me good especially in such a bad time. God bless us🙏

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊

[@jijimonvb4159]

Wonderful! The thumbnail looks like real! lots of love from India ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Natural light does wonders! Thank you 😊

[@kimfromnewzealand8768]

The water scenes are my favorites too 😆

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Cheers Kim

[@ilonamollema6467]

This is so gorgeous!

[@coreymulvey6141]

A lot of videos say ultra realistic or whatever but this really is ultra realistic

[@joshuacotton6436]

The creek coloration and rocks are the best!!!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you. They are nice terrain tiles. 😀

[@batatbatat]

absolútne realistická krajina. Nádhera, máte na to umelecké oko.

[@dereksmalls6238]

Definitely love your water scenes!

[@Luminty99]

This is absolutely amazing. I didn't know water could look so realistic. The mod podge blowing technique is genius.

[@lifefactor6171]

Ты молодец! Круто получилось! Красота!

[@PyrographyMadeEasy]

Hi Merrick, these turned out fantastically. The tiles were interesting and I'm just in awe at how you turned that piece of plastic into something that looks so realistic. Very enjoyable video!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks Brenda! Not as in awe as I am of your skills 😀

[@CarlaHanson68]

Wow, that is truly beautiful!!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks Carla

[@tuandoole9651]

Thank you Sir for sharing your great talent and ideas It's so beautiful

[@patterrana1581]

Its difficult to find good, informative, well produced terrain videos to help with my model railroad. These fit the bill perfectly, subed.

[@jesustelugusongs1089]

Wow

[@Kalkipikaia]

Gorgeous as usual. The plants are truly amazing.

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Sorry for late reply. Thank you!

[@schadowolf]

Well done! Very impressive foliage!

[@normanrowe2831]

Hello Merrick, interesting usage of the gaming tiles. They are very realistic. It sure helps to have a great base or foundation to begin with. Thanks for sharing them. Also the French scenic company, dioramapresepe. WWS is a great source also. But all the great product in the world is worthless without an artist to apply them. Great tutorial as always. With beautiful results. See ya next time.

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks Norman. dioramapresepe is Italian actually, and currently life is very difficult there, but he's still going with his website.

[@KaustavMouli]

Great show as usual Merrick! It shows in your care that you love water scenes! This looks lovely!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you!

[@wandererdg]

Absolutely wonderful!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊

[@mr.cracker3085]

I love this peace so much its great

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊

[@MaIIS09]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊

[@ErzgebirgsMoBaHO]

Hello. you built that brilliantly again. Thank you for showing me. Greetings Tino

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊

[@christianrudolph1959]

Looks good comrade

[@sandysailer]

This is amazing!

[@Orianecmoi]

Super

[@Bruno.Trains]

Very interesting ,,, many thanks

[@realsonofmars]

Amazing work! Loved the video.

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks!

[@turdy_water7646]

I've been waiting for another video!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Hopefully I'll be releasing them quite regularly from now on!

[@younglo1]

Amazing merrick 💎💯💯

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you!

[@Numptee86]

Brilliant mate!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks 👍😊

[@squarebusinessofficial]

Beautiful

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you

[@thomaswalla4210]

Thats real great stuff! Thanks for doing this clinic!! thumbs up Thomas Vienna, Austria!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks Thomas!

[@ahmetkapu7841]

Çok güzel süper bravo..

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you

[@beefknuckles]

Nice one man. Great work as per usual!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Cheers!

[@dioramapresepe7972]

Number 1 amazing :)

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks 😀

[@rosmalinamalina9260]

good. ❤️

[@brutumfulmen6539]

Amazing

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks!

[@maxboonkittypoison]

Great work again :D Wish i was half as good. Greetings,, Kitty.

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks Kitty 😊

[@vezhopkins714]

I use the tufts with my 1/6 model horses as hay :)

[@MidIslandCustomDiecast]

Man, the manufacturer of the terrain tiles stole the design and they're not offering them anymore... But whoever the manufacturer is doesn't do a good job advertising because I can't find a product like this anywhere. Anyway, really nice job. I would like tiles with roads on them, but I guess I'm stuck with foam for now

[@gloriaruthcortezcalel2699]

Waaaaaaaw

[@TheDisneyPotterfan]

I've wanted to do something like this for so long, thank you for making a video about it. Just 2 questions. If I want to make the stream clear (not murky) how do I do that? And must the epoxy resin be dry before putting on the glossy modge podge? Thanks again for the video.

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Hello. So sorry for the late reply. The resin will dry completely clear if you don't tint it. Yes, the resin must be cured before applying the Mod Podge.

[@ms-pn8mp]

U have such an amazing talent thank you so much for sharing it with us☺ i would really like to know more about u if that's possible..For example do u do this as a day time job?

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊. I work in environmental, sustainability and recycling communications.

[@shiveringlots]

I am slowly watching your videos, but I am wondering if you ever have fish, other animals in your scenes? I would be so interested to see how you would incorporate them into such a realistic natural scene!

[@t.j.lemaster8653]

Awesome build my friend!.. I'm building a 1:64 scale small diorama very similar to the one in this video but in mine I will have a 1:64 scale mud truck (Hot wheels) splashing into the shallow river at a Crossing do you have any tips or techniques on how I would make the splash effect coming off the front of the vehicle entering the river at high speeds? ( my first diorama)

[@sandystelljes617]

Amazing! I found your video doing a search for a faux water scene to add to my gnome garden outdoors. Do you have any suggestions that would hold up to the outdoor weather?

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊. Exterior stuff isn't my area, I'm afraid, but yacht varnish should work. Ripples might be an issue, though.

[@sandystelljes617]

@@HighEyeWorkshop, that is a great suggestion; thanks for your reply!

[@POKOKEHOBBYRC]

👍👍👍

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

Looks great! Figure out a way to somehow ANIMATE a model stream!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thank you 😊

[@anthonyproctor5104]

Nice effort. For perfect water I'd recommend Unreal Magic Water. Far superior finished product. Apoxy Resins yellow and crack with time. Couldn't help notice all the debris on the surface of the water. Water products should always be applied last

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure my techniques are sound. Depends if the resin is UV resistant. Magic water is epoxy, after all.

[@MrMajikman1]

Correction: Your first base coat (primer) is RAW umber, not BURNT umber. This is the second video today that I have watched where someone claimed to be using "burnt umber" when really they were using "raw umber." They are two very different colors. Other than that, loved the video!

[@julienlonghoi2965]

hello :) what is the burning tool you have please ? if you can tell me something i can take on amazon pls :) thx

[@tinaprice4948]

I wanted to buy this but the website is down :( so not sure if they are still making these boards :(

[@recepdemir7946]

not bad

[@neilrogers1571]

Have you ever put some fish in your streams?

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

I haven't yet, but I might in future.

[@neilrogers1571]

Check out Lex Parker’s Railroad he has put some in a stream appears to be poss air dried clay or something similar rolled between fingers

[@AC-dt5ci]

why don't you shake the applicator up and down instead of side to side?

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Because the grass would just come out in a lump. Side-to-side allows it to come out more slowly.

[@TV-se4ce]

진짜같다

[@theproud77]

The CFS-shipping to Germany costs 31£ / 35€, if I buy a 7.5£ / 10€ resin😂😂 I think it only worth it if you live in the UK

[@MrEffs_life]

oh man I put higheye10 into coupon and it did not work!

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

It may be that they've paused it. I haven't heard anything, though.

[@MrEffs_life]

@@HighEyeWorkshop HA... ALL CAPS DOES IT 🙂

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Great!

[@johnphilippatos]

Big deal... I can make it way better in let's say..... a hundred years, give or take a week.

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

😂

[@andrewbriggs2279]

your work is awesome. your videos are great. please stop saying the name of everything you use. i know you get it free if you say these things, but please, not every time you use something.

[@tbateman9902]

You're very talented but your bend in the river is way to sharp.....not realistic at all.....

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Thanks, but it's not my bend. As shown in the video, these are terrain tiles. I would definitely make it less of a right-angle

[@Bruno.Trains]

Very interesting ,,, many thanks